Pro Pundits

Five-time top 1k FPL finisher Tom Freeman on Bale, the Free Hit and GW33 captaincy

The Hall of Fame number 15, who has five top 1,000 Fantasy Premier League finishes to his name, addresses some hot topics ahead of Blank Gameweek 33.



“It is not a sport if success is guaranteed or if it doesn’t matter when you lose.”

Pep Guardiola

After one of the most hectic starts to a week ever in the game, football matches have felt a little irrelevant in the shadow of the European Super League.

However, as I type this, clubs are exiting en masse from the group and it does at least feel like there is hope that the project is now finished.

So, in this, my latest column, I’m going to press ahead and discuss Tottenham Hotspur and a player who I think may benefit from José Mourinho’s exit. I’ll also touch upon my own plans for the Free Hit chip, and then have a look at a couple of alternative captain options for Gameweek 33.

GARETH BALE

Despite seeing just 10 minutes of action during Spurs’ last four Premier League matches, the player who I think could benefit most from Mourinho’s departure is Gareth Bale (£9.1m) – especially if new interim head coach Ryan Mason goes with an attacking side.

The pair know each other well from the Welshman’s first stint at the club, and the schedule (see below) could allow him to thrive, given the longer rest periods between games.

If he can get enough minutes, I’m convinced Bale can become an option again. 

Amongst midfielders, his 0.48 expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes is second in the Premier League, only behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (£12.5m). His ‘big chances’ per 90 minutes average also ranks fourth. It’s a small sample size (562 minutes) from which to draw conclusions but we have seen what the 31-year-old is capable of between Gameweek 25 and 27, when he bagged 39 FPL points.

The match (and goal) against Southampton was a positive start and the clash with Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final will further allow us to scout the new set-up before they take on Sheffield United in Gameweek 34.

Dele Alli (£7.4m) is worth monitoring, too. Mason played alongside the 25-year-old under Mauricio Pochettino, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if we see him starting games again soon.

WHEN TO USE THE FREE HIT?

The Free Hit chip is probably my favourite of the lot, as it allows us to think outside of the box and target some differentials. 

Gameweek 33 presents an opportunity to use it with four teams blanking, but for my own squad, I’m not convinced it’s worth it. For context, here’s how I’m currently set up, with one free transfer and £2.0m in the bank:

If I were to Free Hit, I would bring in a new goalkeeper given the uncertainty surrounding Edouard Mendy (£5.2m). I may also add a Wolverhampton Wanderers defender and possibly Marcus Rashford (£9.5m) or Mason Greenwood (£7.1m) for Jesse Lingard (£6.6m). However, my frontline looks okay, and I think I might gain more by saving it till Gameweek 35.

In this scenario, which has been put together by the awesome @Legomané, we would see eight teams double in 35, with four of those sides then blanking the following week. That would obviously be ideal, but let’s see how things play out once the schedule is confirmed.

GAMEWEEK 33 CAPTAINCY

Salah is probably the best captain option this week but it’s worth noting that Newcastle United are unbeaten in three matches and have lost just one of their last seven. Now up to 15th in the table, they have a nine-point cushion above the bottom three and are clearly benefitting from switching to a 3-5-2 formation back in Gameweek 30 (see below).

Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.1m) has been putting up some good numbers during that time, too, with seven goal attempts and eight chances created in just 116 minutes. 

Newcastle’s form probably won’t matter to a player as good as Salah, but what if you don’t own him or fancy looking elsewhere?

An alternative option, and one that I’m quite fond of, is to captain one of Leicester City’s frontmen. The Foxes’ forwards head into Gameweek 33 in wildly contrasting form, with Kelechi Iheanacho (£6.1m) on ten goals in seven games and Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) on just one since the turn of the year. However, Vardy has been unfortunate not to return more, with a -3.13 xG delta during that period, and I wouldn’t hesitate to hand either of them the armband against Crystal Palace.

FORM TABLE

Before I sign off, I’ll leave you with this Premier League 2021 form table, which focuses solely on results from Gameweek 17 onwards. I found it interesting, so I thought I’d share it here so you can have a look too:

So, thanks for reading all, and best of luck this week.


633 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best option?

    A) Greenwood

    B) Maddison

    C) Mount

    1. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A.

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B for few fixtures, A for potential to be explosive this GW

  2. ZAWAd25
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy to:

    A) Martinez
    B) Schmichael
    C) better options?

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mendy isn’t dropped. Kepa just played to get his confidence up, same as when he played vs Newcastle

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        How can you be so sure?

        1. HammersXI
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Many people are using the earlier FA cup games as the example. Why would he drop Mendy?

    2. Taegugk Warrior
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      what happen with mendy.

  3. andres
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Could greenwood be a good option?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Martial out so yes I guess

  4. C_G
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    RMWCT please. 0 ITB.

    Martinez Forster

    Castagne TAA Saiss Dunk Holding

    Lingard Jota Salah Raph Greenwood

    Kane Nacho Vardy

    1. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Change Vardy and Raph to DCL and Maddison? If chasing. I'm thinking about doing that

  5. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Prospect of Jota and Raph to play folks?

    1. Sloane426
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota 0%

      1. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Link?

          1. MrZ
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Thanks m8

  6. gryffsonofarthur
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    1 FT:

    A) Stones for Castagne/Periera

    B) Kane for Vardy

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

    2. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      why is A a choice.

  7. Brunsvigeren
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Which teams are likely to have DGW on gw35?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      On top of my head AVL EVE SOU CRY ARS CHE MUN LEI you need to check

  8. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    1.0 ITB 1FT.

    Switch out Phillips or roll FT?

    Martinez
    Rudiger Shaw Phillips* Coady
    Bruno Jota Lingard Salah
    Watkins Nacho

    Lloris Mitchell Son Kane

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Any appealing replacement? I would use the transfer.

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        No appealing rep.

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          If Jota is not playing you may end up 9 players? As long as you’re fine with it.

    2. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Roll it, unless Klopp says Phillips is out for a long while.

  9. Sterling Archer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hoping Raphiniha is going to good to go! otherwise its a -4 to get 11 players,

    Leeds have some OK fixtures left

  10. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Martinez
    Shaw Rudiger Phillips Dias!
    Salah Bruno Jota Lingard
    DCL Nacho

    (Fabri Kane! Son! Struijk)

    If Jota is not fit which one of these looks a better option?

    A) Dias, Jota & Son ➡️ TAA, Greenwood & Maddison -8
    B) Dias & Jota ➡️ Saiss/Fofana & Greenwood -4

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B for me

  11. Sloane426
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Already done Bamford > Iheanacho
    Would you do Jota > Maddison/Greenwood -4?
    Jota looks like he won’t be in the squad and I have no playing bench this week.

    1. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      whats the jota news?

  12. ZAWAd25
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Will Greenwood rise in price before the deadline?

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No. Deadline is today. Next price change is about 8 hours after the deadline.

    2. Sloane426
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Impossible

  13. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I currently have 10 players (or 9 if Raphina isn't fit). Best move?

    a) White > Castagne
    b) White & Raphina > Fofana & Greenwood (-4)

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B if Raph isn't fit.

  14. winchester
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Good day lads. Advice needed here lads, have 2ft. No chips left. Can field 10 players.

    mendy (foester)
    taa rudiger coady lowton (mitchell)
    bruno salah jota lingard (son)
    ihenacho (kane davis)

  15. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is Mendy >> Schmeichel worth an FT??

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wait to see what Tuchel says first.

  16. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Greenwood or Rashford?
    I have Bruno also.

  17. tibollom
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thinking of WC this team guys, what do you think?
    Current team
    LLoris Areola
    AWB Dias Veltman Cresswell Struikj
    Jota Bruno Raph Lingard KDB
    Watkins Ihenacho Kane

    WC team
    Jonhstone Ederson
    AWB Struijk Veltman Saiss Castagne
    Salah Bruno Greenwood Lingard Raph
    Ihenancho Kane Watkins

  18. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Holding no longer certain of starts with Luiz coming back?

  19. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    any information about mendy situation..?

  20. Donster
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best replacement for Laca?

    A: DCL

    B: Cavani

    C: Suprise me!

  21. Pointless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is there a Spurs presser today please?

  22. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Can we get someone to hack Tuchels press conference and ask him directly about the goal keeping situation.

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It's the cool rotation know, the last piece in the fk up FPL jigsaw. Not even counting injuries, suspension, COVID etc. No Number 1 is Number 1 anymore. Ederson benching imminent.

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        All we need is another bald fraud wanabee.

  23. Hristo Letchkov
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is Smith-Rowe first choice? I see he hasn't had many minutes recently just unclear if that was due to injury? Is he likely to start next couple or rotation risk?

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I think so but need a Gooner to confirm. I like watching him play, such a smart footballer.

  24. Machine_Gunnerz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Suggest a 5.1mil defender for long term.
    Already with Semedo, Shaw, Rudiger, Veltman and removing Betrand.

  25. faux_C
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Son to who for 1 week?

    1. faux_C
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Playing 4-5-1 like this:

      Salah, Jota, Fernandes, Lingard, X
      Iheanacho

      Solve for X.

      1. faux_C
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks chaps

      2. Heiro
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Greenwood

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Greenwood.

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Greenwood or Pulisic

  26. Johnny too hotty
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Veltman or Philips. Who would you sign in the draft league

  27. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy
    James Semedo Phillips Shaw
    Bruno Jota Lingard Son
    Kane Iheanacho

    Forster Dias Gundogan Mitrovic

    1ft 6.3itb

    Time to FH?

  28. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is Saiss nailed?

    1. Neo-Viper
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      yes

  29. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    So Lacazette misses only the Everton game or are fpl just guessing?

  30. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Morning all
    Dam injuries!!

    Laca and moura to

    Vardy/marinelli or nacho/ Greenwood

    Or ?

    1. Heiro
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B